NEWSLETTER – Jan / Feb 2018

ALL OUR HARD WORK FINALLY PAYS OFF!

$13 Million for the Rail Trail

THE Federal Government has committed $6.5 million to help fund the first stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail in what has been hailed as the biggest milestone yet for the project.

Along with matching State Government funding, the total $13 million will fund the transformation of 24km of rail corridor into a community trail from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek.

Federal Minister for Regional Development John McVeigh announced the funding last Friday in South Murwillumbah.
“As a local MP for the regional city of Toowoomba, I know how much these projects will help the local community,” Dr McVeigh said.

Thomas George – local member for Lismore, is a long-term advocate of the project, was also present at the announcement.

“This project offers real economic benefits, with its potential to create jobs, boost the local tourism industry and provide a valuable asset for the enjoyment of the local community,” Mr George said.

Tweed Shire Council director engineering David Oxenham said preliminary planning for the project would now commence.

“That phase will include determining timeframes, when we can start, when we can complete the project, and the project team,” Mr Oxenham said.

Mr Oxenham said detailed timelines for the project and conceptual designs might be complete within “three to six months”.

Public liaison for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Association, Marie Lawton, hailed the news as the biggest boost yet for the project which now had “so much momentum”.

“We’ve got the State, the Feds and local councils on board, and so many community members supporting us,” Ms Lawton said.

“It just seems to me that the best thing that could happen for this region is a rail trail.”

Geoff Provest MP, Minister Dr John McVeigh, Ex deputy prime minister and patron of the rail trail Doug Anthony and Local member for Lismore Thomas George – at the announcement last Friday.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Doug Anthony, now 89, made a special guest appearance as a patron of the rail trail project. He has been supportive of the project from it’s inception and believes it would be the best way to showcase the wonderful Tweed Region. He was a very happy man that day!

They may be in Lycra, but most people are over 70 with a couple of youngsters still in their sixties. Looking forward to the rail trail to make it safer for their weekly rides.

If everyone can make a small donation to help keep our organisation running, it would be a great help. We spend money monthly on maintaining the website, mail chimp, facebook, markets, printing, postage and merchandise. We use our own money for travel and petrol and many other incidentals.

We want to try and not eat into the crowd funding money which has been earmarked for the business case.

Unfortunately someone thought it good idea to run a poll. Train or Trail? Although we don’t like to get involved in these polls, it may be good to do this one. We don’t want the politicians to think they have made a mistake! You will have to scroll down to find the survey.